Gateway airport faces challenges in adding carriers

The economy and other obstacles are hindering efforts to expand the repertoire of airlines at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the airline's board of directors was told earlier this month.

John Barry, Gateway's business-development director, said the airport and its partners are aggressively pursuing other airlines to join Allegiant Air, which has built its Gateway operations into a major success story.

So far, there are no takers.

"We're getting very close," Barry said, but he offered no specifics.

It's not that Gateway lacks advantages, Barry said.

It costs less for airlines to operate there, and passengers like its convenience and small-town feel.

But the big players see no reason to set up shop in east Mesa right now.

"All of the major carriers (at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport) see no benefit at this point in time to setting up an operation at Gateway because they'd just be robbing themselves of passenger traffic at Sky Harbor," Barry said. "So it's a challenge."

To Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, a member of the airport board, it's a worrisome one.

"As much as I love Allegiant," he said, "I'm still very concerned that we have all our eggs in one basket."

"We've seen how fickle this industry is," he added, noting that one adverse event can push a carrier to the financial brink.

He cited the notorious case of a JetBlue flight that was stuck on the ground for eight hours at John F. Kennedy International Airport in early 2007.

Smith said it's not a matter of Gateway robbing business from Sky Harbor.

For one thing, he said, Allegiant's unique business model attracts people who wouldn't be flying otherwise.

For another, well-run reliever airports "generally don't cannibalize major hub airports, they actually expand the market, which only benefits the major hub."

Barry said Gateway is roughly in the same stage of development as was LA/Ontario International Airport 30 years ago.

"Look at them today," he said. "There's dual service, complementary service, both to LAX and Ontario."

But since that's unlikely here for the time being, Barry said Gateway is seeking smaller airlines.